Space / Extraterrestrial Life

Where Earth Is Unearthly: Exotic Places That Resemble Alien Planets

From windswept deserts to the ocean near Key Largo, some parts of our planet are surprisingly similar to other worlds. 03.14.2012

One Giant Leap for Machine Kind

While human explorers remain stubbornly stuck in Earth orbit, robotic space probes are preparing for the next great age of exploration: drilling, rolling, sailing, and prospecting where nobody has gone before. 10.31.2011

Next-Generation, Honking-Big, Recession-Proof Alien Hunting

The Square Kilometre Array should be able to pick up signals coming from aliens living halfway around the galaxy. 10.15.2011

Is Anybody Out There?

As astronomers uncover a bewildering array of planets orbiting distant stars, four top researchers in the field reveal their plans to study these exotic worlds and search for signs that we are not alone in the universe. 01.27.2011

11 Space Missions That Will Make Headlines in 2011

This year, space exploration will bring news of expeditions to distant planets, the quest for life-friendly star systems, and the bold efforts of commercial space companies. Here's a preview of what to look forward to. 01.06.2011

The Alien Seekers of SETI Are Just Getting Started

For 50 years a devoted group of scientists has been listening for signals from intelligent life. Despite all the dead air, the true believers say the odds of success are now better than ever. 01.03.2011

The 100 Top Science Stories of 2010

Every year DISCOVER sorts through the scientific accomplishments of the past 12 months, and assembles a list of the coolest experiments, most brilliant discoveries, and most world-changing events. As you page through the countdown to the #1 science story, we think you'll come to the same conclusion we did: 2010 was quite a year. 12.16.2010

The Freakiest Places in the Solar System

The stinkiest moon, the deepest canyon, the most shocking lightning storm: A guided tour to the solar system's most extraordinary spots. 10.26.2010

#21: Fresh Hints of Life on Mars

Could underground life be emitting methane clouds during warm periods? 01.25.2010

Discover Interview: Miles of Wire, Reams of Print-Outs, and a Giant Discovery

Jocelyn Bell Burnell worked through old-school equipment and old-school sexism to find the first pulsar—the beginning of an extraordinary life in science. 12.29.2009

#63: Did NASA’s Phoenix Find Liquid Water on Mars?

If fluid water does persist on Mars, life could be hanging on in thin layers of salty water just beneath the surface. 12.28.2009

The Search for Aliens Gets Harder—But More Encouraging

Saturn's surprising moons have broadened scientists' ideas about where extraterrestrial life might be found. 11.16.2009

Is Jupiter's Bizarre Moon Our Best Hope for Finding Extraterrestrial Life?

NASA is gambling $4 billion that there's life beneath the thin atmosphere, lethal radiation, and miles-thick ice on Europa. 08.28.2009

Life on Europa?

NASA is betting $4 billion that there's life in strange, frigid oceans on Jupiter's mysterious moon. 08.27.2009

The Best in Science Culture

Clashes with aliens, America vs. Science, really horrible sci-fi, and more 08.16.2009

A Scientist's Guide to Finding Alien Life: Where, When, and in What Universe

A variety of new findings point to the "habitable zones" where we're likely to find extraterrestrials. 05.11.2009

The Frontiers of Astronomy

DISCOVER's panel of top astronomers and astrophysicists discuss some of the biggest questions in the universe. 05.10.2009

Our Quest to Explore—and Photograph—the Solar System

Each stab outward into space gives us a chance to image some new part of our cosmic neighborhood, from Earth to water on Mars to the strange moons of Jupiter and Saturn. 04.21.2009

Are You There, E.T.? It's Me, Maggie

Astrobiologist Maggie Turnbull gets paid by NASA to search for alien life. 02.03.2009

The Man Who Made Stars and Planets

Alan Boss has spent a career predicting how stars and planets form—and has often been right. 01.12.2009

#6: Phoenix Lander Strikes Ice on Mars

Finally, positive confirmation of what we long thought and hoped for 12.21.2008

#50: Confirmed: 1969 Meteorite Brought Genetic Building Blocks From Space

More evidence that asteroids may have led to the emergence of life on earth. 12.13.2008

#95: Organic Matter Found in Saturn's Mystery Moon

Icy Jets from the planet's sixth-largest moon contain primitive components of life. 12.05.2008

How Long Until We Find a Second Earth?

Researchers are racing to find the first planet that might support life as we know it. 10.10.2008

The Solar System Looks Way Better Than It Used To

A comparison of landmark space pictures shows our imaging tech has improved in 40 years. A lot. 10.07.2008

What is This? The Surface of Mars?

Not quite—but some people pretend it is. 09.03.2008

Diary of a Martian Explorer

Phoenix gives the first-ever firsthand account from the surface of the Red Planet. 06.02.2008

3 People Who Are Pushing the Edge of Science

Growing electronics with viruses, finding alien life, and quantum privacy protection. 05.30.2008

Mission to the Forgotten Planets

Before the Pluto fiasco, two asteroids were stripped of planet status. 03.11.2008

Rearranging Stars to Communicate with Aliens

A proposal to create special constellations that nature would never produce 02.08.2008

Inside the Search for Extraterrestrial Life

It starts with water and ends with intelligent aliens—hopefully. 12.25.2007

Scientist of the Year: David Charbonneau

His research heats up the search for alien life—and finds some amazing planets along the way. 12.06.2007

Aliens Among Us

Do we share Earth with alternative life forms? 06.27.2007

Psychedelic Space Plants

Scientists predict plants with wild colors on distant planets. 04.11.2007

The Hunt for Other Earths Heats Up

We could hit the jackpot by 2010. 04.10.2007

Like Water for Mars

Evidence of water flowing on our most similar neighbor 02.25.2007

Sky Lights

Among a sea of white and red, astronomers search for the color of life 02.23.2007

Whatever Happened to... Project Blue Book?

The government gave up on alien tall tales. 02.08.2007

20 Things You Didn't Know About... Aliens

Where are they lurking, when will we find them, and will pictures of naked people impress them? 01.07.2007

Did Life Begin In Space?

Interstellar organic molecules suggest that Earth may have been seeded by the cosmos. 11.09.2006

Drake's Brave Guess

A group of astronomers who met in 1961 to figure out the odds of finding intelligent life in our own galaxy turn out to have been really smart and really lucky. 05.27.2006

Life on Mars

Minerals suggest microbes once flourished. 04.24.2006

Think Tank

Top scientists pinpoint the critical developments of the last 25 years and predict wonders yet to come 08.08.2005

Life on Mars

05.01.2005

Seeding the Universe

The search for life on Mars could be a bit complicated by the hitchhikers on our rovers 10.01.2004

Sky Lights

Does the secret of extraterrestrial life lie deep within the stars and planets? 07.25.2004

Astronomy

01.02.2004

To Catch a Comet

In January a clever probe will meet up with a flying rock that may hold the secret to life on Earth 10.28.2003

Star Trek

NASA thinks we can find another Earth in another nearby star. When we do, how can we possibly travel light-years to get there? It might not be as hard as you'd think . . . 08.01.2003

The Optical Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

The Optical Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence 11.01.2002

Did Life on Earth Come From Mars?

Chunks of planets were flying all over the place when the solar system was young—and some may have carried hitchhikers 08.01.2001

Why is There Life?

Because, says Britain's Astronomer Royal, you happen to be in the right universe 11.01.2000

Titan's Secret Seas

11.01.1999

Life From Mars

More evidence for fossilized bacteria in a meteorite from Mars. 06.01.1999

Who's Out There?

The search for intelligent life in outer space is going so well, scientists need a little help from you and your home computer 04.01.1999

Who's Out There?

The search for intelligent life in outer space needs a little help from you and your home computer. 04.01.1999

Water World

Beneath the six-mile-thick shell of ice that encases the moon Europa may lie a vast liquid ocean. And in its dark, alient depths, we may--if we look--find something swimming alive. 05.01.1997

The Ulitmate Suburb

Hints of fossilized microbes have rekindled NASA's hopes for a community on Mars. 05.01.1997

Looking for Life in All the Wrong Places

Microbes from the least hospitable places on Earth, could seed the universe with life. 05.01.1997

Questionable Life

Finding evidence of ancient life on Mars may be even more difficult than we thought. 02.01.1997

Find of the Century?

A meteorite bearing tantalizing evidence of life on Mars makes a big splash. 01.01.1997

Yes, We Have No Yellow Fruit

Are aliens really coming to Earth? 11.01.1996

Jack Farmer, Exopaleontologist

Sometime in the next century, he hopes to find fossil microbes on Mars. 10.01.1995

Is Anyone Out There?

Surely, out of the countless spheres in the universe, one harbors something that can say hello. 11.01.1992